
West Way redevelopment update
West Way Community Concern have been keeping the community
updated on the prospective redevelopment of the West Way centre for
four years now, via our newsletters and articles in parish magazines.
Mace’s community engagement over the past year, on the other hand,
has consisted of a public meeting in June, and very little since. What
information we receive, particularly via the planning process, often proves
to be unreliable.
The original plan was to commence work in November 2016, with a 3½
year programme. This was later extended. Early this year, the intention
was to change the phasing to reduce the programme from 5½ years back
to 3½. Traders in West Way Centre were instructed to leave by the end
of June, so we might have expected commencement of works soon after,
although this depended on a planning permission for the change of use
of Elms Court and the Grant Thornton building which hadn’t yet been
granted. In September, Mace asked the planning department of the Vale
for a quick decision, so that they could be on site in October. In
November, they submitted a required planning document, saying they
wished to be on site in November. But approval of this document will not
be achieved before December.
Mace have prepared an information leaflet, which was distributed
electronically to some members of the Community Liaison Group. When
asked when this was to be sent to residents, their PR agents responded
that copies would be in the library, and WWCC and local councillors could
give it to ‘interested parties’. If interested parties aren’t the residents, who
are? Are we expected to print this out and deliver it ourselves? Does
Mace’s budget not run to keeping us informed?
The leaflet can be found on our website and in the library. It repeats the
aspiration to commence work ‘soon’, but confirms that existing shops will
stay open where they are over Christmas. There is nothing new in it but
it may act as a reminder of the plans as it is five months since their last
public meeting. Actions speak louder than words, and we haven’t seen
much yet!
Mary Gill, Co- Chair, WWCC
To stay informed, please check our website and social media
(www.westwayconcern.wordpress.com www.twitter.com/westwayconcern
facebook.com/westwayconcern) or sign up for our email updates via
westwayconcern@gmail.com .